Coaches always love to experiment in the spring, so this week's list topic is Most Intriguing Position Switches. (I tried to keep this to a little more than corners shifting to safety and guards becoming tackles.)
1. Rudy Burgess, Arizona State -- TB to CB/TB: Don't call him the poor man's Reggie Bush; the Sun Devils speedster just wants to be known as the original Rudy Burgess, and now that rep should include play-making DB. Lord knows the Sun Devils need help in the secondary, and Burgess is the kind of athlete who could make a difference.
The big challenge for him will be the endurance part of the equation going both ways. I recall working on a Chris Gamble story a few years back, and the thing that amazed everyone was how the Buckeyes star never seemed to get tired. Burgess realizes this will be an issue, according to this Arizona Republic story.
"Sometimes it's hard, especially if you're the guy that just scored the touchdown," Burgess told the Republic. "You have all the excitement and adrenaline going, and then you have to run straight to the 40-yard line to run down field at full speed in order to tackle a guy.
"There are times when I want to take myself out. But that's not me. That's not being an athlete."
2. Will Herring, Auburn -- FS to OLB: One of nine moves by the Tigers staff, this one is particularly interesting as Herring is a three-year starter at free safety. His coaches loved what they saw and say he's a more natural linebacker than safety. Meanwhile, the Tigers seem to have plenty of answers at Herring's old spot with Tristan Davis, Lorenzo Ferguson and rapidly developing Aairon Savage, a converted corner.
3. Victor "Macho" Harris, Virginia Tech -- CB to TB/CB: Harris has bulked up 20 pounds since entering Tech and was a dynamite runner in high school (2,346 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns his senior year). With the uncertainty surrounding running back Branden Ore, Harris has gotten a look at a spot where the Hokies have a big question mark.
4. Henry Melton, Texas -- RB to DE/RB: This guy is a load at 275 pounds, but at a recent UT scrimmage, he flashed some big-time tools as a tailback with a stunning burst through the hole for such a big guy. That said, Melton looks as though he could be an All-Big 12 D-lineman right now if he went full time on that side of the ball. Justin Blalock, UT's veteran right tackle, described Melton as scary as a pass-rusher because he's such a great combination of power and quickness.
5. Mansfield Wrotto, Georgia Tech -- DT to RT: It's hard to call this an experiment because Wrotto practiced at offensive guard last spring before being switched back to defense that summer when Tech lost some players. Wrotto's now a senior and is trying to fill the lone vacancy Tech has up front. The big question: Does he have the footwork and quickness to handle working on an island in a league loaded with great pass-rushing ends?
6. Mike West, South Carolina -- LB to WR: You know Steve Spurrier can never have enough wideouts and this spring he had to be pleased with some of the tough catches West was making. The 211-pounder, who was a standout tailback in high school in Florida, might just be one of the guys who can take some of the heat off the great Sidney Rice.
7. Whitney Lewis, USC -- WR to RB: The Trojans got really thin this spring at tailback and gave the onetime all-world recruit some work. Lewis, who has struggled with his weight throughout his career, reportedly looked pretty good as a ball carrier. At this point, with the depth the Trojans have amassed at wide receiver, any place they can get something out of Lewis would be seen as a bonus.
8. Robert Lane, Mississippi -- QB to TE: Lane, like Lewis, was another very hyped recruit who has yet to get really settled in college. Lane is a heck of an athlete and pretty tough. "We're really excited about what Robert can do for us," Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron said. Lane, a 242-pounder, seemed a natural now that new Rebs O-coordinator Dan Werner is looking to get the ball to the tight end a lot more than past coaches did. He is a bit undersized and seems to be more of the H-back type with Chris Cooley in mind. Don't be surprised if Lane catches more than 40 passes this season, especially as the Rebels are going to be really green at wide receiver.
9. James Bryant, Miami -- FB to LB: At 6-3, 245 pounds, Bryant is one of the more impressive athletes in the Canes program. He is a physical guy who is going to make collisions wherever he plays. Last season, he was the backup fullback and struggled getting the position down. He asked the coaches to switch him back to linebacker, and I'd assume he will get quite a bit of playing time there because UM now has only redshirt frosh Jerrell Mabry (as in Mabry 280 pounds) and a walk-on at fullback. (If Bryant can't crack the two-deep on defense, I'd imagine he'd have to help out at fullback.)
UM has had only a week of practice, so it's still too early to see how much of an impact Bryant can make on a defense still searching for its replacement to Jon Vilma at MLB. The coaches are high on youngster Darryl Sharpton, but don't count out Bryant.
10. Darnell Martemus, Vanderbilt, OLB to RB: Once groomed to be the heir to Moses Osemwegie at weakside OLB, 5-11, 225-pound Martemus brings his speed and explosiveness over to the Vandy offense. This move seems to be paying off nicely as Martemus shined in a recent scrimmage, showing he was a tough runner and a capable lead blocker. He is the son of a former CFL player, by the way.
Just Missed the Cut: Courtney Denson, South Florida, QB to CB; Carnell Stewart, LSU, DT to OT; Omar Conner, Mississippi State, QB to WR.
